Gardening

Are there masonry paints we can apply after pruning that will not adversely affect plants?

Carl Wright moved to Clare from Devon 30 years ago, restoring a semi-derelict old farmhouse and creating Caher Bridge Garden around it

Mistletoe, which depends on a host plant for water, is relatively rare in Ireland

Tips for your summer garden, including working with the vagaries of the weather and keeping an eye out for snail damage

Salty storm winds can cause damage to plants, but the good news is they usually recover

We impulse-buy at this time of year, but often the plants are entirely unsuitable for our garden

Holly leaf blight is an increasing problem in Irish gardens in recent years

When choosing plants, containers and compost, there are some important factors to bear in mind

Billy Alexander takes gold medal for his fern collection at the Chelsea Flower Show

Alexander, of Kells Bay House & Gardens, is aiming for gold at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show

Gardening Q&A: A wide variety of salad crops can be grown quickly and exceptionally well in this protected microclimate

It’s liberating to accept that you’re never going to be master of your own garden, and this isn’t a failing

Unfortunately, this is often a problem for kitchen gardeners at this time of year

May is a risky month for gardeners – take timely precautions now for a flourishing summer garden

Q&A: You may end up with a smaller harvest if frost damage strikes, but it is not fatal

Q&A: This houseplant has a reputation for being hard to kill

By blooming and setting seed before their summer counterparts, these species gain a distinct advantage

An established beech hedge needs to be carefully trimmed every year to keep it in good shape

Do not kill those plants with kindness by over or underwatering

Properties in Cork, Dublin, Wexford and more offer prospective buyers something different with their outdoor spaces

Four-bedroom B3-rated property with luxury low-maintenance back garden

From March to May, visitors are surrounded by fabulous florals of every description in the several well-heeled squares of the English capital

Your gardening questions: Be wary of fast-growing bamboos whose roots can cause problems for foundations and drains

Playful, stimulating and fascinating, the best water features connect with our senses

Sawfly larvae can rapidly defoliate gooseberry and currant bushes, and by the time they’re spotted, the damage is often already severe

Science shows that consuming or inhaling the scent of this herb may even improve memory and cognition

For the gardener who dislikes the brash yellow of daffodils there are winsome alternatives

Readers’ questions: You’re correct to wonder how long it will take plants to be productive

Readers’ questions: The cherries were a wonderful surprise in the first year, but the tree has not been particularly bountiful since

Key to keeping on top of the to-do list at this time of year is to prioritise ruthlessly

Firstly, break up the soil surface with a garden fork and remove as many of the smaller fibrous roots as you can

Magnolia flowers are back in bloom, putting on a magnificent display in gardens around the country

His watering of the trees has rendered my shed a soggy mess and I am terrified for my property

At the beginning of spring sowing season, it’s worth remembering there are few greater joys than coaxing growth from the smallest of starts

Readers’ questions: Modern houses can be surprisingly challenging environments for indoor plants

Chitting involves spreading seed potatoes out indoors to spur the ‘eyes’ of the tubers into early growth

This is when to begin thinking about your rhubarb crop and how to get the most out of it

Readers’ questions: Box has come under serious attack from a few very destructive non-native pests and diseases in recent years

From sowing tomato seed to pruning roses: some things always benefit from an early start

Readers’ questions: How/when could I cut it back without losing a year’s flowers?